Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's wait for an India debut appears to be getting longer with every passing game. The 15-year-old batting sensation, who earned a senior call-up after a record-breaking IPL season, was once again left on the sidelines as India stuck with their established top-order combination in the first T20I against England.
The situation has now attracted even more attention after reports emerged from Manchester suggesting that Vaibhav Sooryavanshi looked visibly frustrated during India's training session at Old Trafford ahead of the second T20I. According to senior sports journalist Ankan Kar, the youngster spent a significant amount of time waiting for a chance to bat in the nets and was eventually given only a brief opportunity despite remaining at the ground for a lengthy period.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi denied India debut
The left-handed batter has done almost everything possible to force his way into the Indian playing XI.
The Rajasthan Royals opener enjoyed a sensational IPL 2026 campaign, scoring 776 runs in 16 matches at an average of 48.50 and an astonishing strike rate of 237.30. He finished as the leading run-scorer of the tournament and won several awards.
Despite those performances, India have continued to keep him on the bench. The teenager was not handed a debut in either of the two T20Is against Ireland. Many expected that to change against England, especially after India's disappointing series defeat in Ireland, but the team management once again preferred the experienced opening pair of Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma in the first T20I.
As a result, Sooryavanshi remains uncapped despite being one of the most talked-about young cricketers in world cricket.
Journalist reveals Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's frustration in nets
Senior sports journalist Ankan Kar provided an interesting update from India's training session at Old Trafford and highlighted how Sooryavanshi's preparation unfolded ahead of the second T20I.
According to Kar, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi spent nearly one and a half hours waiting before getting an opportunity to bat in the nets. During that period, he was seen spending time with a bat and ball, interacting with India's fielding coach and taking part in fielding drills.
Kar pointed out that unlike Abhishek Sharma, who usually remains involved in the session through his spin bowling before batting later, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi had no such role. After completing the fielding work, the youngster reportedly padded up completely, wore his gloves and helmet, picked up his bat and moved towards the practice wickets.
However, even after being fully prepared, he still had to wait another 30 to 40 minutes before getting his chance.
When the opportunity finally arrived, Kar claimed that Sooryavanshi batted for only around 15 to 20 minutes. The journalist also observed that the youngster did not appear to be in the best mood during the session.
While Kar admitted that he could not confirm the reason behind the teenager's apparent disappointment, he noted that the batter certainly looked unhappy based on what was witnessed at Old Trafford.
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Will Vaibhav Sooryavanshi make his India debut in Manchester?
As things stand, the chances of Sooryavanshi making his debut in the second T20I appear slim. India showed signs of improvement with the bat in the rain-affected opening game despite eventually ending with a no result. Abhishek Sharma continued his impressive record against England with another impactful knock, while captain Shreyas Iyer also returned to form with a valuable half-century.
More importantly, India's coaching staff have publicly backed the current top-order combination. Bowling coach Morne Morkel recently stressed the importance of showing faith in proven performers and suggested that the team management does not intend to make unnecessary changes.
Sanju Samson's recent scores have been disappointing, but the wicketkeeper-batter remains a key member of India's T20I setup. He was one of India's standout performers during their T20 World Cup-winning campaign and also enjoyed an excellent IPL season. Abhishek Sharma, meanwhile, is currently regarded as one of the most destructive T20 batters in the world.
With India likely to continue backing Samson and Abhishek at the top of the order, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi may have to wait a little longer for his opportunity. However, given his age, talent and recent performances, it seems only a matter of time before the teenager finally receives his long-awaited India cap.
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